Wordless Wednesday

Lordy, Lordy Heather's 40!

HaPpY BiRtHdAy HeAtHeR!

I love that we can laugh together...

...and be silly.

and still take a good picture!

I hope you've enjoyed your 40th birthday week. I've enjoyed showering you with lots of gifts and love.

Here's to *at least* 40 more years!

Love you!

Wordless Wednesday

Ethan's summer...

This summer...

Ethan went to camp at Ipoint...

and came HOME from camp, my favorite part :)

He learned how to shoot quite a few guns...

He swam competitively again...

He lost his first molar...

He is looking more like his father everyday...

Went to Bello's for his TENTH birthday supper...

He started his second year of football and LOVES it...

2012 youth football picture.

and he started 5th grade and was in an Old Fashion Spelling Bee...

I can't believe how fast time is passing. Ethan is such a wonderful young man and I am proud to have him for my son. He really is such an easy going, go with the flow kid that loves God and animals, friends and family.

We love you Ethan Joshua!

Happy Father's Day Steven!

Dear Daddy,

Thank you for...

teaching us how to work hard...

so that we can play hard...

 for helping me with my homework and being patient...

 for letting me be like you...

 for teaching me how to become a man...

 for snuggling me until we fall asleep...

 for taking time out of your work day to be apart of my school life...

 for showing me that physical touch is ok and needed between a father and son...

 for loving me the way I am...

 for running races with me...

 ...even when you're not feeling well...

 for showing us how to skip rocks and enjoy the outdoors...

 and for being our HERO!

We love you daddy! Happy Father's Day!

Love Ethan and Abram~

Thankful Thursday

I am beyond thankful for this man, this man I am honored to call my husband and father of our children. Ethan went to his dad and asked if he would teach him to mow. Of course Steven agreed. I absolutely LOVE witnessing Steven teach our boys how to do things. This particular event pulled at our heart strings. Steven said, "this was really emotional for me...I never had this kind of opportunity with *my* father, I'm so thankful I have this with Ethan."

I am also incredibly thankful for this boys willingness and eagerness to learn and please us.
He is such a blessing. My oldest boy is growing up way too fast.

Today(and everyday)...I am thankful.

Life. Keepin' it real.

the last 24 hours.
Yesterday:
4:50pm, Steven left for his last fire training class and I was once again home alone with the boys to do the entire night time routine, by myself!
5:00pm, I was going to cook supper but the boys didn't like what I was thinking, soup and grilled cheese, so I caved and got Pizza Hut.
6:30pm, The boys shower. Ethan jumped up to adjust nozzle and it broke, water EVERYWHERE!
Abram showers and needs a new towel because his towel got soaked from Ethan's nozzle knock.
7:00pm Wednesday nights the boy(s) and I watch American Idol. Usually by this time of night I've already checked out for the day mentally and just want to watch some teen hopefuls make it big and every Wednesday Abram complains he doesn't want to watch it...last night was no exception.
His little six year old body just couldn't sit still or keep his arms, legs, hands, or feet to himself.
He likes to talk, sing, hum...NONSTOP which annoys us and makes it hard to hear the TV.
I had asked him several times to sit down and shut up be quiet and he just wouldn't until...the candy necklace he was swinging came undone and all those little pieces of candy went flying...into my face! I came unglued and called him a not very nice name. Real mature I know, but I thought it was better than beating his butt or throwing the remote at him. He senses my extreme frustration and sits down but keeps talking. He just had to tell me how grey my hair is. Well DUH!
9pm, bed time. I am VERY clear, if either kid comes downstairs there will be serious consequences.
We say what we're thankful for, prayers and I leave, well try to. Ethan needs a drink, Abram wants the window shut. I allow Ethan to get a drink and tell Abram to just go to sleep. I leave, for real this time.
5 minutes later I hear foot steps...Ethan is coming to tell me that Abram tried to shut the window and got it stuck, he's hot and mad at Abram, Abram is mad the window is open...I want to scream and cry.
I come downstairs totally wiped, log into Facebook and learn that my dearest friend Trina passed away. I am now completely falling apart.
10pm, Steven comes home. We talk about his testing and evening, I tell him about ours and about Trina. We finally go to bed at 11:45pm I wait for Steven to fall asleep before I allow myself to cry and ask God why Trina? Why now, why her...why God?
12:01am, Steven's fire pager goes off...he leaves, I get back up.
1:00am, a massive storm with thunder, lightning and forceful winds sweeps threw our town.
1:30am, I have a bowl of cereal and head to bed. I pray for Trina's family and count my blessings.
2:15am, Steven comes back home, showers (because he smells like a fire) and heads to bed.
3:00am, we go to sleep...zzzzzz
6:55am, Steven's fire pager goes off, again.
7:00am, boys wake and start their day...me too.
7:40am, Steven comes back home. Abram has decided he doesn't want breakfast (like most mornings) and he doesn't want hot lunch either. Steven proceeds to make him a lunch. He is insisting on 1 piece of buttered bread and 1 cookie. They fight over his lunch. Yelling, screaming, crying...not how I want my boys to go off to school. I'm sad, Abram's mad, Steven's frustrated, Ethan waits outside by car.
8:35am, I leave, head to the coffee shop, then work. I try my hardest to smile at every customer and count my blessings, because with my blessings, I am a rich woman.
9:30am, I notice I forgot earrings today, I'd rather forget to brush my teeth then forget earrings. I'm sad.
12pm, A friend drops off Mary Kay, brings me chocolate and offers me her earrings, I love her.
2:50pm, Get off work, go back to same Coffee Hut, see different girl thankfully and hope to refuel for afternoon. Pick up kiddos.
3:15pm, We arrive home. Ethan wants to watch Sports Center, Abram wants to annoy him and begs him to play outside. I agree to sit outside where I promise myself to not yell, scream or say mean words today. Abram gets the hose. I ask him very nicely NOT to spray me.
3:20pm. He sprays me "accidentally." I want to cry. I come inside without saying anything. I think about supper, for about 3 seconds then hope Steven has a supper idea.
4:06pm, Text from hubby-computers went down at work, he'll be home soon.
4:22pm, Second text from hubby-fire call, no ETA now.
ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?!?!?!
But...as I sit here and reflect on these past 24 hours I know in my heart I am blessed, so very blessed.
Blessed to even have known Trina, for her to give me Godly advice and counsel, prayers, and wisdom.
Blessed for the health and life of my boys, even when  he  they challenge me.
Blessed with a husband who  works full time and loves to serve on the Fire Department and who never complains about anything, ever.
Blessed with incredible family and friends IRL and virtually who are willing to give me their earrings, listen to me, lift and encourage me.
I am incredibly blessed and to Him be the glory.